Yard MD Blog: Juncoes are back

Arrival of the tiny birds is a sign of winter's imminent arrival

Oct. 16, 2013

Dark-eyed juncoes have arrived from the north, migrating here to Wisconsin where they will spend the winter. This is their Florida. Juncoes are beautiful, little birds, in soft gray and white. / Rob Zimmer/Post-Crescent Media

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Post-Crescent Media

Those tiny, telltale birds of the coming of winter have been spotted across northeast Wisconsin.

Dark-eyed juncoes, formerly known as Slate-colored juncoes, are members of the sparrow family, although they appear to be more closely related to chickadees than sparrows. With a soft, gray plumage that can be almost black in some birds and rich chestnut in others, as well as a striking white underside, these small birds create a lively scene as they arrive in fall.

Juncoes actually migrate south into our area. This is their wintering grounds. Birds from Canada move south to Wisconsin, where they will spend the winter feeding upon seeds and other items in the forest and along the forest edge.

Juncoes can be identified quickly as they move about at ground-level foraging for food by their bouncy flight and flashing tails, edged in pure white. The birds flash these tails excitedly as they move about, tossing aside leaves and twigs on the forest floor.

During fall and winter, their voice is a unusual metallic squeak, while their late winter and spring song is a sweet, high-pitched trill.

These birds are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, so be sure your feeders are full this fall and winter.